464

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

five hundred inhabitants, who shall provide an iron safe
or some other secure depository for the keeping of the
money and plate belonging to their guests, and upon
being applied to for the purpose by any of his guests it
shall be the duty of the hotel keeper or his agent to
take charge for safe keeping of such money and plate
and if lost or stolen while thus in his charge, such hotel
keeper shall be liable for the full value of the same, to he
recovered before a justice of the peace, if such value
does not exceed one hundred dollars, and if over by
action of assumpart in any court having jurisdiction in

Proviso.

similar cases; Provided however, that the Hotel keeper
shall not be so liable if the loss occurred through fire
proved to have happened without any negligence upon
the part of himself or his agents.

Notice to be
put up.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the hotel keepers
referred to by the first section of this act, who shall
cause written or printed notice to be put up in their
chambers and other conspicuous places about their
hotels notifying their guests of the purport of this act,
and requesting them to deposit their money and plate
with the proprietor or his agent to be designated by such
notice.

Hotel keepers
not liable if
not deposi-
ted.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That in all cases where
guests at any of the hotels referred to in this act, shall
lose by robbery or otherwise any money or plate not
deposited for safe keeping, the hotel keeper shall not
be liable if it can he proved that he has complied with
the provisions of this act unless it can be further proved
that such loss occurred from collusion or positive negli-
gence on the part of himself or his agents.